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Danii sat on her throne, thinking about witches - and abdication

I couldher a bucketful of softball-size diamonds, and ask her to put me on her list

Even if Murdoch wasn&039;t keen on waiting fifty years, reserving a spot couldn&039;t hurt

And Danii could return to Val Hall, now that she could live in New Orleans safe froe to her A/C and really get so

Maybe she could be happy there It would be even harder staying in Louisiana so fresh from the cold But fall had arrived there, at least

Was she an idiot even to conte her throne - and her new life, tucked away aard? Could she truly leave behind an ice world where she lived a her own kind, to seek a vampire she could never touch?

Over and over, Danii recalled the look in his eyes when he&039;d yelled for her to coht

Yes She would try once more to convince him that they could -

"My queen," one of her ladies-in-waiting said as she hastened into the throne rooard He crossed the White Death "

When Murdoch woke, he lay in a bed in a bizarre roohter and quieter here out of the wind, the te new pants and a coat of sorts that kept hied his frostbitten hands He et to her He labored to rise -

Jadian strode into the room "So, it is you Why have you come to our realm?" His expression betrayed no surprise, no emotion whatsoever

This is the bastard who knohat it&039;s like to kiss Daniela

And I can&039;t kill hi position "I seek Daniela" His words were hoarse, his body still exhausted

Jadian crossed his arms over his chest "Why would I ever let one such as you near her?"

"I just need to speak to her And then, if she still doesn&039;t want to see ain" What a lie -

Daniela entered And Murdoch sucked in a breath

She wasthan he&039;d ever seen her, her body bedecked in diamonds Her hair ild beneath a band of ice and jewels - the crown from Daniela&039;s ain These mere days had felt like eternity

She looked dazed to find him here Surely she had to know he&039;d come for her

He couldn&039;t read her expression Was she not pleased at all to see him? Then his heart sank as coods, Murdoch was here He ild-eyed, with his lips and hands frostbitten and his face abraded

He&039;d crossed the White Death? To come for me

Jadian was eerily calm "I say we throw him back out and let the cold take hi that, she said, "Murdoch, how did you get here?"

"I followed your memories But the portal was off"

"My memories," she repeated softly He had taken them from her blood "Why have you come?"

"Can I talk to you? Alone Please, Daniela, just a few minutes of your time"

"My queen, this is ridiculous," Jadian said "Remember what he did to you last ti look, then turned back to her "I have an idea - there&039;s a e ether"

"What? How?"

"When I drank fro that up to me?" Her hand flittered to her neck at the reminder

"Because now I knohy it was so irresistible to me"

Jadian said, "Because you&039;re a parasite"

"Jadian!"

"He plans to bite you again"

"Of course he doesn&039;t Murdoch, tell him"

"Daniela, speak with ed toto you that you don&039;t agree to"

His words piqued her curiosity He hadn&039;t promised not to hurt her, not to bite her, yet she felt no threat fro to Jadian with raised brows After a hesitation, he turned for the door, stonily silent

As soon as they were alone, Murdoch de him?"

"What? No!"

"Nix told me you were"

"She must be confused then, or youabout?"